Type-writer ribbon-vibrator.



A. C. ROEBUCK.

` TYPE WRITER RIBBON VIBRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED 00h28. I9I4.-

lzw., Patented Apr. 10,191?.

2 SHEETS-SHEET '1.

Il rf. II

A, C. ROEBUCK.

TYPE wanen mason vlmon. APPLICATIDN FILED ()CT.28|1914V Pzltented'Apr. 10, 1917.'

2 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

mmm runas mc uma.. vnsmnanw n c for multi-color work or for a vai'ied patlr, to utilize the ribbon throughout its full-- width, and theprincipal object ofthe in- In' the 4accompanying drawings,

l 1 LVAH C. ROEBUCK, OF WOODSTOCK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 WOODSTOCK TYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF WOODSTOCK. ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TYPE-WRITER RIBBONfVIBRATOB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. ilu, 11917.

.Application filed October 28, 1914. Serial No. 868,977.

To all ivliom it may concern 'B'eit known that I, ALvAH C. Romanen,

State of Illinois, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Type-Writer Ribbon-Vibrators,.of which the follow-ing is `o, specification.

This invention relates to a' mechanism for shifting the ribbon of Aa typewriter either ventin is to provide -an improved simple formof mechanism of this kind; which can be economically producedand which does not easily get out of 'order'.l

- A .further object' of the invention is to p rovi e improved means for operating a de vlce for this purpose either by the direct ma-V nipultion of the holder,v or by indirect op eration 4,from machine. V

For the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of vother new and useful objects, as will appear, the invention consists in the 'features of Vnovelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts generally shown in the' ac- 'companying. drawings and described in the specification, but mores-particularly pointed outiii the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a. diagrammatic representation ofa rib- .boni vibrator mechanism constructed in accordance Withthe principles of this invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the operating bar and lever of the mechanism shown in Fig.- 1;' Fig. 3 is a front view of the vibra'- toryV member; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the saine; Fig. 5 is afront view of a. ribbon holder; Fig.' 6 is a. view of the holder in one position'on the vibratory member; Fig. 7 is a view with the ribbon holder in a different position; Fig. v.8 is a' side elevation of thec'onstruction shown by Fig. 7; Fig. 9 Vis a'se'ctional view on the 1ine'9-9 of Fig. 7 Fig. 10 is a sectional View on the line 10-10 of Fig. 7; Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line 11-11 of Fig. 7; Fig. 12 is a View of an operating bar similar to that shown in Fig. V1, operating only Afrom the'` side of the machine, and Fig. 13 is another view of i the same.

In using amulticolor ribbon off-the tWbholder is in its lower position,

the front ofA the ltypewriting color .type (usually read andblack) the red zone is at the bottom. vmenthe ribbon as' shown by Figs. 1, 7 and 8, the ribbon is in a position to print on the black zone, and when in the position shown by Fig. (i it will print on the red zone. The present invention provides means for adjusting the ribbon'holder to eitherposition by manually pressing directly upon ears projecting troni the holder -or b v operating;l a leveroihkcy at the front .oi'isiile of they machine, in connection with ordinaevspace bar (not shown) mechanism.

In the'foim illustrated, lthe reference nuf meral "1 designatesy generally a vibratory member pivotally or otherwise connected' to an oscillating arm 2 which is connected to -thc spacing mechanism (not shown) of an ordinary typewriter so 'as to operate the vibratory member 1 every time the type- 'writer carriage is moved a letter space.

This vibratory member 1 is formed with a forked or U-shaped upper end 'comprising extremities 3 and 4 of which the former is provided with a lower 'stop 5 and the latter is formed with notches 6 and an outer projection 7. This extremity 4, is also reduced or narrowed toward the outer end, for a purpose to be hereinafter Set forth.

Slidable upon the. vibratory member 1 is a, ribbon holder 8 preferably U-shaped in form the extremities of which are folded over to embrace the extremities 3 and 4 of the member 1. One-extremity 9 of the ribbon holder is formed with projections 10 and 11 which actas guides forA the holder in its sliding movement on the member 1 and the lower'projection 10 engages the project-ion 5 of the member '1 to limit the movement of the holderin one direction. The-other extremity 12 of the holder embraces the ex tremity -t of the member l and is formed with a projection 13 which is adapted tovengage in-eitherof the recesses l6. of the vibratory member 1 and to engage the projection `7 at the'outer 'end ofv the' member- '1 to limit the sliding movement of.. the holder inthe upward direction. The extremity 12 of the holder does not tit theextremity 4l of the member 1 closely .at the outer end, as Will-be clearly` seen in Figs. 6 and 7, but the othe extremity 9 of the ribbon holder fits closely oir the other. extremity 3 of the member (see Fig. 1) but permits thev holdor'to slide freely thereon. The rib-.

bon holder S is made of resilient material the extremity il of the-member 1, and as the projection 13 of the ribbon holder is normally engaged by either one of the notches of the vibratory member it is necessary that the ex'tremity 12 be sprung inwardly before the ribbon holder can be adjusted upon the vibratory member 1.

In order to hold al ribbon a in place on the holder, the holder is provided with loops each formed by bending the outer tip of the extremities 9 and.1'2 of the holder lirst outwardly then parallel with the holder and then inwardly forming a rectangular loop 15 inclined outwardly from the extremity and with a tip 1G disposed at the outside of the extremity from which it is bent and terminating at a point in the direction opposite from the facce from which it is bent, as shown more clearly in Figs. 6 and S. Vith this construction it is possible to place a ribbon quicklyV in place on the holder. by merely pressing it upwardly in the direction of the arrows b, as shown in Fig. 6. lVhen the ribbon is tightened as in theordinary operation there is no danger of its disengagement from loops, or that the ribbon will not be properly, held.

For springing the ribbon holder and for 4moving it with respect to the vibratory member 1, the holder is provided with' ears 14 which project laterally from the outsides of the extremities 9 and 12 so that they may be engaged by the fingers of an operatorA and pressed inwardly. the yielding of the extremity 1Q being sufficient to disengage 'the ribbon holder from the vibratory member, whereupon the holder may be shifted o r slid to the position desired. l.

Another means for shifting the ribbon holder with respect to the vibratory member comprises a slidable bar 17' (see Figs. 12 and 13.) having an engaging arm 18 and mounted in the typewriter frame designated generally by the reference numeral19. holder and the vibratory member 1 are guided by means of pins or guides Q0 disposed at the other side of the holder. This bar 17 may be operated by means of a fingerhold'projection 21 at the side of the machine, as shown particularly in Figs. 12 and 13, in which case a spring, 22 is connected directlyvto vthe frame and to the bar for hold` ing it outl of engaging position, or the bar may be provided with a slot 23 in which one end of a lever 24'pivoted to the frame is inserted, the other' end of which is provided withl a finger-hold portion 25 disposed adjacent the front of the typewriter 'and With a spring Q6 disposed between the pivot point and the front end of the lever for holding the barl 17` out of engaging position. To shift the position of the ribbon holder with The ribbon l respect to the vibratory member 1 the ears/ let-may be directly engaged, as previously explained, and` the ribbon holderJ shifted manually and directly, -or the ribbon holder may be sprung by pressing the .ban 17 againstA it either by pressing the finger-hold portion, 21 or the finger-hold portion 25A of the lever 21, whereupon the projection 13y of the ribbon holder will be disengaged from the notches 6' of the vibratory member. lVhen the projection 13 is engaged in the lower notch 6, as shown in Figs. 1, 7 and 8 the ribbon is in position to print on the black zone of the ribbon, and when it isdesired to print on' the red `/.one the holder is raised' by means of the vibratory member 1 andfbyf means of the oscillatory arm'connected thereto, the extremity of the holder is pressed by means of the ,bar'l' until the projection 13 becolnes disengaged from the lower notch 6 and then the vibratory mem. ber 1 is allowed to fall, still pressing the holder, until the projection 13 engages with the upper notch 6. In this positionof the holder the lower or red portion of the ribbon will be utilized. To change the holderlthe operation j ust described is reversed; that is, when the holder is Vin position to print red the holder is lirst sprungby means of the bar-17 and then after the projection 13 is disengaved from the upper notch the vibratory member 1 is raised until it will engage with .j

the lower notch, whereupon thebar 17 is released and the ribbon holder is in -position so that the typewriter will writeon the black. v

With this construction the several parts can be formed of sheet material and since the construction 'is simple it can be manufactured `and assembled economically and because of its simplicity in construction and operation it is not` likely to get out of order. It is obvious that variouschanges in` the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope" of the invention. For example, the ribbon holder can be made to occupy more than two locations on the ,vibratory part 1`by making the Y vprojection 1 3 narrower and increasing the number' of slots 6 in tliewibiatory member-1.

lVhat I claim is:

1. Ina typewriting machine, the combito the arm and the other flexible and slid- I ably adjustable upon the `first part, one of the members being formed with. forked exwith respect to it.

witlrboth of the members one of which is flexible and may be sprung,.by which the slidable member may be adjusted and held with respect to the other member.

4. In a typewriter ribbonvibrator, the combination with a vibratory member, 'a

l ribbon holder member slidable thereon and having a resilient extremity lwhich engages with the 'other-'member andA which may be sprung with respect to the other member for sliding it into a, different position with respect thereto.

` 5. In atypewriterribbon vibrator, the combination with a vribratory member, of a ribbon holding member slidable thereon, cachot the members being formed with an extremity and the extremities being formed with intel-engaging means for holding the slidable member in .any adjusted vposition with respect to the other member, and the extremity of one of the members being adapted to be sprung with respect to the other for releasing it from engagement with the other whereby the slidable member .may be adjusted to another position.

(i. In a typewriter ribbon vibrator, the collnbiuatiou with a vibratory melnber, of a ribbon holding lnember slidable thereon, each of the members heilig formed with an extremity and the extremities being formed with interengaging means for holding the slidable member in any adjusted position with respect to the other-member. and the extrel'nity of one of the members being adapted to be sprung with'respect to the other for releasing it from engagement with the other whereby the, slidable member may be adjusted to'another position, and a stop in connection with one of the members for limiting the movement of the other member 7. In typewriter ribbon vibrator mechanism. the combinationwith a `vibratory member having `a rigid U-shaped extremity with projections thereon, of a ribbon holder slidable thereon having an extremity with means for engaging the projectlon of the other member which may be sprung to disengage the parts of the two members so that the ribbon holder may be slid to a new position and some of the projections. on the member limiting the sliding movement of the ribbon holder inboth directions.

8. In a` typewriterribbon vibrator, the

combination with a forked yibratory memf ber, a forked ribbon holder slidable thereon with edges bent aronndthe forked 'edges of the member to form a guide, the forked extremities ofthe Iholder being flexible so that the holder may be sprung and adjusted in position on the said memberyand with a plurality of ribbon l1olding loops each consisting of an extremity of the holder bent away from and toward the holder to form. a flat4` loop with the end' of the bent extremity disposed at'the side of the forked extremity of the holder. I l 9. Ina typewriter ribbon' vibrator, a Slidable ribbon holder comprising a member formed .with flexible forked extremities 'which may be laterally sprung and which are bent out of the plane of the member to one side thereof and backwardly to form a fiat loop into which the ribbon may be inserted at the `side of the member, and aI forked meml'ier, the prongs of which al'e separat-ely engaged by corresponding 'forked extremities of the other member.

10. In a typewriter ribbon vibratorythe tcombination.with a vibratory member, of a. resilient ribbon holding member slidable thereon and guided thereby provided with manually engageable ears for springing .and adjustably sliding the holder with respect to the member. y

j 11. In a typewriter ribbonyibrator, the combination with a vibratory member, of a ribbon holder slidable thereon having a part which may be sprung with respect to the member, thepart which may be sprung and the member having interengaging notched parts which are released from engagement when the holder is sprung so that it may be slid with respect to the holder, and the holder beingprovided with ears for spring ing and moving it with respect to the memberl- 12. A typewriter ribbon vibrator comprising a vibratory member formed With a forked extremity and with projections thereon, of a ribbon holder with parts which engage the forkedends of the member and form a. guideway for sliding the vholder on the member, one of the engaging parts of the holder being of greater width than the forked extremity so that it may be sprung with respect thereto for disengaging it fromv vaofi arts in connection' with the member` and the holder which are released fromengagement when the holder is sprung so that the holder may be adjusted with respect thereto, and means for engaging the holder to spring 'l it with respect to the member.

14. In a typen'rriter, the combination with a. Vb'ratory arm,` ot' a member connected therewith, a ribbon holder slidable on the member having an extremity which may be sprung with respectto the member, means for holdmg the ribbon holder in place' 0n the` l member which is' released when theholder is sprung, and engaging means in yconnection with vthe typewriter for springlllgthe holder to shift the member with respect thereto vwhen the holder is engaged.

Y' 1 5. In a typewriter, the combination with .fir frame, of' a ribbon vibrator 'oscillatable ltherein comprising a vibratory member, a

-llpring ribbon holder slidable upon the memberf and slidably movable when it is sprung, :and means in connection withthe frame for holding and springing the ribbon holder s0 that the member may be adjusted relatively thereto.' for varying' the position of the holder.

1G. In a typewritenthe combination with a frame, of a ribbonvibrator'oseillatable therein Comprising a vibratory member, a spring ribbon holder slidable upon themem` ber and slidably movable when it is sprung,

a bar supported b v the frame movable to engage and hold Said spring ribbon holder, and means to operate the bar from the front of the typewriter wher-eb)7 the ribbon holder may be held by the bar for adjustment.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name fto this specification, in Athe presence of two Subserihing4 witnesses, on this 22nd 4.0 day of October A. D. 1914.

ALVAH C. ROEBUCK.

Witnesses L. E. HOUSHOLDER, J. T. S\\'.\Hns11:n'r. 

